WOOT My tank is finally giving me a nearly 0ppm ammonia reading after having 2 months of 8.0ppm ammonia readings. The only thing I changed was my filter. I took off the penguin 350 and installed an Eheim 2232 Ecco canister filter. How could my penguin filter not be sufficient enough for my rank (27gal)? It moves over 10X the necessary amount of water and had four legion filter mediastinum in it (max amount). I'm baffled yet extremely pleased!

I have read that if the water flow through a filter is too fast, the bacteria cannot handle the ammonia. Just an observation.

The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.[unknown source]

Something we all need to remember: The fish you've acquired was quite happy not being owned by you, minding its own business. If you’re going to take it under your wing then you’re responsible for it. Every aspect of its life is under your control, from water quality and temperature to swimming space. [Nathan Hill in PFK]

I have read that if the water flow through a filter is too fast, the bacteria cannot handle the ammonia. Just an observation.

Heh yeah what Byron said. It was more then sufficient.. too much so. Bacteria need a chance to consume the ammonia. Like trying to grab a burger at a drive through... while on a high speed train. Just doesn't work. Glad you got that figured out.

WOOT My tank is finally giving me a nearly 0ppm ammonia reading after having 2 months of 8.0ppm ammonia readings. The only thing I changed was my filter. I took off the penguin 350 and installed an Eheim 2232 Ecco canister filter. How could my penguin filter not be sufficient enough for my rank (27gal)? It moves over 10X the necessary amount of water and had four legion filter mediastinum in it (max amount). I'm baffled yet extremely pleased!

Do be aware that if filter material in Eheim is new, that near zero ammonia levels may increase unless filter material from the Penguin was used to help seed the new filter.
I would NOT use ammolock in new filter, but rather I would use water changes and PRIME should ammonia levels begin to increase. If Decor and substrate were left alone,one may not see a rise in ammonia depending on number's of fish and or foods offered for there is much good bacteria on both plant's, decor,glass,wood,and first few centimeter's of substrate. But with new filter, with no borrowed filter media from old filter,,one may see a spike in ammonia until the bacteria can establish within the new filter.(again, depend's on stocking level's and feeding's)
If you did not add ammolock to the new filter,,then perhaps the ammolock was providing the false positive readings you were getting IMHO.
The less product's used in the aquarium,,the easier it is to identify/eliminate problems.

I left my old penguin filter running for 4 day in tandum with the Eheim filter (is that seeding?). I was reading 8.0ppm for the first 2 weeks of running the Eheim, but am not at 0ppm. The way I feed my fish allows very little food to reach the substrate. I use small pinch at a time of pellets allowing them to eat everything before adding more. I used to use tropical flakes, but have stopped because they pollute the tank 10 folds in my experience. All I have now is a little white haze that should clear with weekly water changes.

I have not used Ammo Lock since early June. So I guess it was giving me a false reading the entire time, but isnt 2 months a really long time. Why would it take until now for the Ammo Lock to filter out? Could the penguin 350 media not handle this task like the Eheim filter media?Posted via Mobile Device